Transposition

Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the understanding of music function called Transposition. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net

Chromatic Transposition | Diatonic Transposition | Concert Pitch vs. Instrument Pitch Instruments

Transposition in music means to move or shift from one key, or tonal center, to another. The shifting of a melodic and/or harmonic progression, a section of a song, or an entire musical piece to another key, while maintaining the same tone structure, including all the whole steps, half steps, and other intervals, it is called a Chromatic Transposition. See the sample below for an F Major melody that is transposed into G Major. All the pitches, intervals, and rhythm remain the same.

A Chromatic Transposition shifted from F Major to G Major

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A Diatonic Transposition is transposition made within a diatonic scale (the most common kind of scale, indicated by one of a few standard key signatures). For example, the same F Major pattern used above is here once again. However, with the Diatonic Transposition, the places of half steps, or intervals of a minor seconds, have shifted, and the melody no longer stayed in the same fashion as if it were transposed into G Major. The three red marks are showing the positions of the new half steps, or intervals of a minor seconds.

A Diatonic Transposition shifted within the F Major by Interval of a Second (major and/or minor)

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A transposing instrument is a musical instrument for which music notation is not written at the concert pitch (concert pitch is the pitch on a non-transposing instrument such as the piano). With the science of musical instrument making, some instruments are too small/short or too large/long to fit the proper musical tuning for human being to handle. Therefore, the instruments are made to play in a difference key of music. However, with correct transposition skills, musicians would be able to play in concert pitches, like pianists.

Transpositions between transposing Instruments and Concert Pitches

C Instruments Piano, Organ, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B

D-Flat Instruments Accordion (Db), Bagpipe (Db) B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb

E-Flat Instruments Clarinet (Eb), Alto Saxophone (Eb), Baritone Saxophone (Eb) A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab

F Instruments Bag Pipe (F), Basset Horn (F), English Horn (F), French Horn (F), Mellophone (F), Alto Recorder (F) G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb

G Instruments Bugle (G), Alto Flute (G) F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E

A-Flat Instruments Soprano Clarinet (Ab), E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb

A Instruments Clarinet (A), Oboe d'amore (A) D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D

B-Flat Instruments Clarinet (Bb), Bass Clarinet (Bb), Euphonium (Bb), Soprano Saxophone (Bb), Tenor Saxophone (Bb), Trumpet (Bb) D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db

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The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Augmented Sixth Chords." Thank you for reading!

Music Theory that every musician could use and should know

The Basics

Math in Music

More Math and Signs

Music Forms

Time Signatures Intervals Modulations Homophonic Style

Polyphonic Style

Diatonic & Chromatic Steps Transposition Contrapuntal Techniques

Key Signatures Triads & Inversions Binary Form

Primary Triads Augmented Sixth Chords Ternary Form

Secondary Triads Traditional Compositional Tools Dance Suites

Scales Seventh Chords Contemporary Compositional Tools Prelude & Fugue

Secondary Dominant Musical Signs Sonata Form

Cadences Rondo Form

Modes Chord Progressions Musical Terms Theme & Variations

Figured Bass & Basso Continuo Serialism

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net